PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Olan Zapina (ranked 1072 p4p, 2224 weight class) and Robert Gracie (ranked 100 p4p, 185 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Zapina
vs
Gracie

174 cm
34
150
14 - 13 - 0

160 cm
25
147
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Wrestler Wayfare
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Olan Zapina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Robert Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Atkins and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie jabs Zapina to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A clash of legs there as Zapina blocks the low kick.
Gracie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Gracie.
A clash of legs there as Zapina blocks the low kick.
Zapina feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Robert Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zapina lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Zapina misses with a low kick.
Zapina misses with an uppercut. Gracie saw that one coming.
Zapina just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Zapina staying out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie throws a hook but Zapina avoids it easily.
Gracie with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Gracie scores with a nice head shot.
Gracie thows a leg kick but Zapina checks it
and Zapina counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gracie attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zapina thinks about countering with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie swings for the body but Zapina moves out of range.
Gracie tries to clinch there but Zapina circles away.

Zapina rushes Gracie and presses him up against the cage.
Gracie can't find room to land a body shot as Zapina controls the action.
Zapina misses with an elbow strike.
Gracie is working Zapina over against the cage.
Zapina lands an elbow inside.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Zapina just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gracie's brow.
Zapina lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Zapina throws an elbow that misses.
Gracie avoids a wild elbow strike from Zapina.
Gracie pushes Zapina back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Gracie will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Zapina up against the cage.
Zapina fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zapina lands a nice uppercut.
Zapina throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Zapina blocks an uppercut.
Zapina looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Zapina scores with a nice hook to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie tries to work over Zapina's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zapina as Gracie tries to tie him up.
With the fighters up against the cage, Zapina throws an elbow but misses.

Gracie has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Zapina is trying to keep an underhook but Gracie manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Zapina is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zapina is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control from Zapina's half guard. Zapina has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Zapina has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Gracie advances to half guard.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Zapina defends it well.
Zapina is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zapina is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.
Gracie slows the pace down in half guard.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Zapina is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Robert Gracie will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gracie tries to clinch up.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zapina scores with a head kick. Gracie tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Gracie lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zapina at a distance.
Gracie looks for the body kick but Zapina saw that one coming.
Robert Gracie seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracie throws a body shot but no joy.
Zapina misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Gracie looks to land a left hand but Zapina moved out of range nicely.
Zapina works Gracie's body with a nice hook.
Gracie swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zapina appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Zapina swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie throws the kick towards the body but Zapina avoids it.
A quick step to the side and Zapina tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zapina moves out of range of the leg kick from Gracie.
Zapina appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Gracie looks to land a body kick but Zapina moved away.
A swing and a miss from Gracie.
Zapina takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gracie falls off balance throwing a combination
and Zapina counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zapina throws a head kick that misses
and Gracie counters with a nice body kick.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zapina was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.
Zapina misses the shot to the body.
Zapina slips a jab from Gracie.
Zapina looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Zapina moves out of range as Gracie throws a body kick.
Zapina avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Good work by Zapina as he checks the leg kick.
Gracie throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gracie takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A head kick by Gracie misses
and Zapina counters with a head kick. That will keep Gracie thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Zapina staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zapina moves out of range of the strikes.

Zapina moves into the clinch successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie takes a shot to the head.
Gracie tries to throw a body punch but Zapina avoids it by throwing Gracie back against the cage.
Gracie dodges an elbow strike from Zapina.
Gracie throws a punch but it's blocked by Zapina.
Zapina throws an elbow but it misses.
Zapina lands an elbow inside that Gracie shrugs off.
Gracie gets through Zapina's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zapina lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Gracie is looking to take this one to the mat.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Zapina creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Zapina lands a nice elbow.
Gracie tries to work over Zapina's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gracie lands a body punch in the clinch.
Zapina gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Zapina lands an elbow that stopped Gracie in his tracks for a moment.
A right hook to the body lands for Gracie.
Zapina is working Gracie over against the cage.
Zapina makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapina works on Gracie's body with a couple of short punches.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Zapina lands a body shot in the clinch.

Gracie has clasped his hands together around Zapina's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Zapina is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Zapina trying to remain calm as Gracie controls from the top position.

Zapina bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Zapina avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Olan Zapina is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zapina cracks Gracie with a good jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zapina tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zapina to the ground. Zapina escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
As Gracie backs away, Zapina returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Zapina missing with a left hand there. Gracie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zapina ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gracie moves away.
Zapina is looking to wear down Gracie with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Zapina feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Gracies jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Gracie takes a swing at Zapina's ribcage but misses.
Zapina slips a jab and a cross from Gracie.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gracie. Zapina does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zapina looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Zapina lands with a kick to the temple. Gracie shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.
Zapina throws the kick towards the body but Gracie avoids it.

Zapina drives through and clinches with Gracie against the cage.
Zapina lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Zapina is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gracie avoids a wild elbow strike from Zapina.
Nice elbow from Zapina.
Zapina misses with an elbow strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Still in the clinch, Gracie scores with a nice short uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Olan Zapina dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gracie bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Zapina's head.
Gracie fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Zapina is out of range.
A head kick misses from Gracie.
Zapina lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Zapina takes the fight into the clinch.
Zapina throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.
Olan Zapina has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Zapina lands an elbow inside that Gracie shrugs off.
Gracie is trying to stall.
Zapina is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?
Zapina blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Zapina pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Zapina lands an elbow that stopped Gracie in his tracks for a moment.
Gracie trying to control the position but instead, Zapina has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gracie into the cage.
Zapina gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapina lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zapina scores with a hook to the body.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zapina lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zapina lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Gracie takes an elbow to the temple.

Gracie is rocked!
Zapina lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Gracie is still on wobbly legs! Can Zapina finish him?
Gracie misses with the head strike.
Gracie throws a punch but it's blocked by Zapina.
Zapina scores with a shot to the side of Gracie's head.
Zapina throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gracies head.
Clinched against the cage, Zapina lands a big elbow that drops Gracie! The ref dives in to save him from more shots - Gracie is complaining that he's OK but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Olan Zapina!
An out of breath Olan Zapina thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.